Best Grass Type For Central New York Lawns
Central NY has four seasons and the temperatures range from -20 in the winter to 100 degrees during the summer.
So you might be wondering what is the best grass type for Central NY lawns whether you live in the Syracuse NY area or any of its suburbs.
Lets take a look at your options to find the best fit.
Cool Season Grasses
Due to the temperature swings that we have here in Central NY we need a grass that can not only survive the hot temperatures of summer but also the very cold temperature of winter.
These are known as cool season grasses which are very common in Syracuse NY.
They are able to tolerate the temperature swings and thrive between 60 to 75 degrees.
This is why when spring hits your grass grows extremely fast and lawn maintenance companies find themselves trying to keep lawns at a manageable height.
Types Of Cool Season Grasses
The 4 most common grass types you will find in Central NY are:
- Kentucky bluegrass
- Perennial ryegrass
- Fine fescue
- Tall fescue
Kentucky bluegrass
You will often find lawns in and around Syracuse NY having Kentucky bluegrass as their grass type.
What makes this grass distinct is its dark green color and the ability to grow quickly during the spring and fall months in Central NY.
Its perennial so it grows back every year and can handle the cold temperatures we usually experience here in the north.
Although it does get hot here during the summer Kentucky buegrass can handle it because we don’t have the extended periods that you would find in the southern states.
You can expect slow to no growth during the hottest parts of the summer.
Watering and irrigation is recommended during the hottest part of the summer to keep the grass healthy and lush.
Another factor to consider is the amount of sunlight you get in yout yard.
This grass type prefers a lot of sunlight so if you have a heavily shaded yard you may want to consider a different type of grass such as tall and fine fescues.
To keep your Kentucky bluegrass lawn healthy its best to dethatch and seed in early fall.
Perennial ryegrass
Another cool season grass that can be found in and around Central NY is perrenial ryegrass.
Its is not as resilient as Kentucky bluegrass due to its shalow root system.
One characterisitc is its ability to germinate and grow quickly as well as maintain its color throughout a large part of the year.
Unlike Kentucky bluegrass that grows and spreads out perennial ryegrass grows in clumps.
Perrenial ryegrass grows best little to no shade.
Fine fescue
Its common to find this cool season grass mixed in with other cool season grass types.
One main characteristic is its shade tolerance.
So if you have a heavily shaded yard but would still like a full green lawn then fine fescues could be the answer.
It also grows very fast and can be cut to shorter lengths.
Tall fescue
Not as common as Kentucky bluegrass or perennial ryegrass here in the Syracuse area tall fescue can be another option for homeowners.
It is a fast growing grass that can handle both the cold and heat of our Central NY seasons.
It doesn’t handle the cold as well as Kentucky bluegrass and perrenial ryegrass but it won’t have any problems handling our hottest summer temperatures.
Due to its deep growing root system its also able to handle drought conditions well.
If you have a heavily shaded yard then tall fescue is a good choice.
